The plans for a 26-kilometer elevated road that will link Thane to the future Navi Mumbai International Airport have been revealed by the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO). The goal of this massive project is to ease traffic and offer smooth access to the new airport, which is scheduled to start flight operations in June after successful test flights.
The government had previously inaugurated the Atal Bridge to enhance connectivity between Mumbai and the Navi Mumbai airport. Now, CIDCO is looking to extend this infrastructure to Thane, integrating it into the broader regional transport network. At present, three main routes connect Thane to Ulwe, where the airport is located: the Thane-Belapur Road, the Eastern Express Highway linking via Airoli, and a longer scenic route through Vashi and Palm Beach Road. However, these existing routes face significant traffic bottlenecks, necessitating a dedicated elevated corridor.
The proposed 26-km corridor will consist of a 17-km elevated highway from Dhan Nirankari Chowk near Patni Maidan in Digha to Palm Beach Road in Vashi, running parallel to Thane-Belapur Road. Additionally, a nine-kilometre double-decker elevated road will extend directly from Palm Beach Road to the airport, ensuring faster access. The total estimated cost of the project stands at Rs 8,000 crore.
CIDCO is currently in the process of preparing a detailed project report and appointing a financial advisor. However, given the scale of the initiative, including land acquisition, environmental clearances, and necessary approvals, officials have refrained from specifying a timeline for its commencement or completion. The elevated corridor is part of a larger strategy by CIDCO and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to improve regional connectivity and support the seamless operation of the new airport.
Source: The Free Press Journal
